Al Rayyan (city)

Al Rayyan
الريان
City
Al Rayyan
Al Rayyan City
Coordinates: 25°15′N 51°24′E / 25.250°N 51.400°E / 25.250; 51.400Coordinates: 25°15′N 51°24′E / 25.250°N 51.400°E / 25.250; 51.400
Country Qatar
Municipality Al Rayyan

Al Rayyan (Arabic: الريان‎) is a city in the municipality of its namesake, Al Rayyan, Qatar.[1] It is the second-most populous city in Qatar, with a population of 605,712 as of 2015.[2] Consisting of all of the districts in the municipality's easternmost section, its boundary cuts off at roughly the point where the Orbital Highway runs through the municipality.[3] It is considered a part of the Metropolitan Doha area.[4] It is one of the proposed venues for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. [5]

Etymology

The city's name derives the Arabic word "ray", which translates to "irrigation". It was given this name due to its low elevation, allowing it to act as a flood plain during the rainy season and provide a prolonged supply of water to the numerous wild plants and crops that grew in the area.[6]

History

An aerial photograph of Al Rayyan taken by the Royal Air Force during a reconnaissance on 9 May 1934.

Before the massive expansion of Al Rayyan City, the two main areas in Al Rayyan were Old Al Rayyan and New Al Rayyan. Old Al Rayyan consisted of many traditional villages, while New Al Rayyan contained many large villas occupied by members of Qatar's ruling family.[7] As Al Rayyan City grew, all of the municipality's eastern settlements were incorporated as districts in the city.[3]

Administration

Districts

Two main areas define the city: Old Al Rayyan, in the northern section, and New Al Rayyan in the south. As for the city proper, several districts of Al Rayyan City are designated by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, including:[6]

Local government

When free elections of the Central Municipal Council first took place in Qatar during 1999,[8] Al Rayyan City was divided into two constituencies: no. 18, which had New Al Rayyan as its seat, and no. 19, which had Old Al Rayyan as its seat.[9] These two constituencies would remain independent of each other for the next three consecutive elections until the fifth municipal elections in 2015, when they were merged under constituency no. 14, with New Al Rayyan as the seat. Also included in its constituency is Al Luqta, Lebday, and Al Shagub.[10]

In the inaugural municipal elections in 1999, voter turnout was 78.3% in constituency no. 18 where Mohammed Hamoud Al Shafi was elected, receiving 37.9%, or 256 votes. In constituency no. 19, Mohammed Saleh Al-Marri won, receiving 66%, or 264 votes. Voter turnout was low, at 37.7%[9] At the next elections, held in 2002, Al Shafi retained his seat in constituency no. 19 while Faraj Saeed Al Aweer was elected in no. 18.[11] In the next election in 2007, Al Shafi once again retained his post in constituency no. 19 whereas Hamad Hamad Al Haoul won the elections in no. 18.[12] The 2011 elections saw both Al Shafi and Haoul retain their seats in their respective constituencies.[13] For the 2015 elections, after the two constituencies were merged into one, long-time representative of constituency no. 19 Mohammed Hamoud Al Shafi emerged as the election winner.[10]

Landmarks

View of the Qatar Equestrian Federation's outdoor arena.

Khalifa International Stadium, one of the first large-scale stadium in Qatar, was built in Al Rayyan City in 1976. It was later included in the Aspire Zone.[14]

The new Al Rayyan stadium is being built for the FIFA 2022 World Cup, designed by a partnership of AECOM, Ramboll and Pattern Design. [15]

The Aspire Zone is located in the Al Waab district and accommodates Aspire Academy. Also found within the Al Waab area are Villaggio Mall and Doha Zoo.[16]

Education City, Qatar Science & Technology Park and other Qatar Foundation facilities are located in the Al Gharrafa, Gharrafat Al Rayyan and Al Shagub districts of Al Rayyan.[17][16]

The Municipal Headquarters is based out of the Old Al Rayyan district, as is the Al Rayyan Security Department and the Al Rayyan Pediatric Emergency Center.[6]

In the New Al Rayyan district, the Qatar Equestrian Federation maintains its stables and outdoor arena.[18]

International relations

Twin towns and sister cities

Al Rayyan is twinned with:

References

  1. ↑ "2015 Population census" (PDF). Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics. April 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  2. ↑ "Qatar's growing economy continues to provide high standard of living". Oxford Business Group. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Al Rayyan Municipality: Vision and Development Strategy" (PDF). Ministry of Municipality and Environment. December 2017. p. 7. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  4. ↑ "Al Rayyan Municipality: Vision and Development Strategy" (PDF). Ministry of Municipality and Environment. December 2017. p. 4. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  5. ↑ Saraiva, Alexia. "Get To Know The 8 2022 Qatar World Cup Stadiums". ArchDaily.
  6. 1 2 3 "District map". The Centre for Geographic Information Systems of Qatar. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  7. ↑ Whelan, John (1983). Qatar, a MEED practical guide. London: Middle East Economic Digest. p. 160. ISBN 0950521191.
  8. ↑ "Central Municipal Council". Government Communications Office of Qatar. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  9. 1 2 "إنتخابات الدورة الأولى" (in Arabic). Central Municipal Council. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  10. 1 2 "مقـار الدوائـر" (in Arabic). Ministry of Interior (Qatar). Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  11. ↑ "الدورة الثانية" (in Arabic). Central Municipal Council. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  12. ↑ "إنتخابات الدورة الثالثة" (in Arabic). Central Municipal Council. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  13. ↑ "رابعاً: إنتخابات الدورة الرابعة كشف بأسماء السادة المرشحين الفائزين في عضوية انتخابات المجلس البلدي المركزي (الدورة الرابعة - 2011م)" (in Arabic). Central Municipal Council. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  14. ↑ "Khalifa International Stadium". Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  15. ↑ Saraiva, Alexia. "Get To Know The 8 2022 Qatar World Cup Stadiums". ArchDaily.
  16. 1 2 "Al Rayyan Municipality: Vision and Development Strategy" (PDF). Ministry of Municipality and Environment. December 2017. p. 15. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  17. ↑ "Visit NU-Q". Northwestern University in Qatar. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  18. ↑ "Hathab returns to QEF for 8th leg of National Equestrian Tour". Qatar Tribune. 16 February 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  19. ↑ "Belarus-Qatari relations in other fields". Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in Qatar. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
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